The Enormous of Enorminity

I have always thought of skyscrapers as enormous.  They scrape the sky.  I look up at the Empire State Building or the Chrysler Building and feel tiny: a speck of humanity in the shadow of huge structures that inspire me, dwarf me and invariably fill me with pride at humankind's accomplishments of reaching for the heights.  However, once in a while my perspective shifts. 
On Sunday,  I visited the American Crafts Festival at Lincoln Center http://www.craftsatlincoln.org/myindex.cgi  It's a great outdoor show that highlights extraordinary craftsmanship and artistry in fabric design, jewelry making, pottery, glass art and a host of other stunning creations made from the imagination and talented hands of artists/artisans.  As I left the Festival I walked along thinking of how human beings can design, mold, fashion and produce works of beauty, wonder and skill.
As I rounded the corner of West End Avenue, I chanced to look up to admire the skyscrapers I love: another form of human virtuosity.  I pointed my camera at some tall buildings that were under construction.  Through the lens I saw a form of workmanship that was breathtaking.  The stuff that promotes inspiration and has always provided vision: Nature.  High above the "in-progress" tower constructed by humans, soared a dazzling cloudscape.  A magnificent display of nature's continuing stimulation and challenge to our inventiveness.  www.ellenfisch.com

Cloudscrape with Skyscraper Detail

Art genre: Black and White art photography

Photography tip: When photographing clouds, make sure to contrast cloud edges so that clouds don't appear as white "blobs" in the sky.  Clouds are challenging to photograph because their amorphous shapes can blend together and give a "flat" appearance.

Location: Shot from West End Avenue and 65th Street facing South, NYC
  

Recent Mists of Time

According to the dictionary, Mists of Time refers to happenings of long ago.  I associate Mists of Time with a dreamy feeling.  Sort of like seeing near and far memories through a blurred filter on the lens.  This is the feeling I have about some of my 2010 adventurers in Australia and New Zealand.  They are a bit hazy and multilayered.
The high point of my 17 (7 planes!) day trip was meeting a family with whom I had been corresponding for 40+ years.  We had experienced a great many joys and sorrows through the years and I dearly wanted to say hello in person.  That part of my trip will always give me the most cherished memories.  It is intriguing to "meet" people with whom you have had an ongoing and intimate conversation for a long time. I was wined and dined and taken to many beautiful sights, but most of all, I was, in person, taken into the family as I had been through letters and later emails and rare phone calls.  That deep family bond continues as it always will, enhanced and strengthened by my visit.
I also took about 6,000 photographs during my travels.  Occasionally I look at the images to remind myself of a particular moment.  I recently looked at some photos I had taken in Queenstown, a stunning lakeside resort town in southern N.Z.  I stayed in Queenstown for a few days towards the end of my trip, looking around and shooting the architecture and the "Lord of the Rings" scenery.  It was a golden time there: summer into fall, early April.  One day on a whim I booked an afternoon trip to Walter Peak Farm: a well touted tourist attraction and a functioning sheep farm.  I was not sure what I expected when I got off the boat that was the way to the farm.  It was about a half hour trip from Queenstown on placid waters.  This is what I saw as I walked through lovely blooming gardens towards the magnificent homestead.  A wonderful memory, slightly misted but reminiscent of an unforgettable time.

Approaching Walter Peak Farm: Queenstown, N,Z.

Leaving Walter Peak Farm: Queenstown, N.Z.

Art genre: Sepia art photography

Photography tip: Sepia can be cool or warm with many tonalities in between.  When using sepia as a value range, explore its many temperatures as these affect enormously the visuals of the image.  These images were enhanced with both orange and pink filters to provide a warm tone.

Location: Walter Peak Farm: Queenstown, New Zealand

Encounter Two

In my last post I presented two wonderful bronze figurines that I saw in the subway.  These charming creatures brightened up my day.  They surprised and delighted me on a stressful day.  However, when I was working on the image in post production, I noticed a small pair of feet at the top of my photograph.  I was astounded!  Where there more sculptures in that particular subway station?  What was connected to those feet in small bronze rounded pointy little shoes?  Recalling the rest of the figure escaped me.  I did have the feet but not the body or head.
I returned to the subway station in NYC to get a shot of the whole figure whose shoes had intrigued me.  The station was quite out of the way and I wondered why I felt compelled to seek out the rest of the statue as I walked along the crowded streets.  Yet, when I got to the subway, I was rewarded by the sight of a humorous figurine so different from the other two small sculptures.  I encountered a sight that made me smile.   It was so unexpected!  I think that photography is a way of discovering the world for me and for everyone else who enjoys in visual encounters.www.ellenfisch.com

Three Bronze Figures: NYC Subway

Mr. Money Bags: NYC Subway

A Chance Encounter

On a day last week I was out photographing the sights in NYC.  I had carefully planned the day and was glad to see the weather report was favorable: wrong..... After the commute and the subway ride with 15 pounds of gear and other bags, etc, I arrived in a lovely Greenwich Village, a quaint part of town to light showers.  I was prepared with an umbrella, but not delighted as the showers turned to rain.  After a calming cup of soup (weather was also to be 65 degrees and topped out at 48), I set out to capture what was left of the afternoon.  I shot 250 photographs, several of which were really nice!  The adrenaline was taking over!
Heading back to the subway, cold, damp and weary, I looked up as I descended into Rush Hour.  To my great surprise I saw these figures watching over the scene.  Well worth my trip to capture whimsy in the NYC subway!

NYC Subway

Subway Whimsy

My Niche

I am usually a forward thinking person.  Although the past, my past has had an enormous impact on my life, I always caught up in future projects.  Thinking of new ways to better my skills; new photography essays; visualizing unique perspectives for architectural images; how to enhance my art.  These are my focus.  When I do recall the past, I reflect on others who have influenced my work and of course wonderful instances of personal relationships, which also had and still have a profound effect on me and my aesthetic.
However, once in a while I trace my path as an artist photographer.  I am surprised when I do.  What amazes me is the journey that got me to where I am today and the marvelous opportunities that were open to me.  Click on the link to see how I came to be an architectural art photographer:

 http://rising.blackstar.com/how-i-found-my-niche-as-a-photographerartist.html

Queen Victoria Building: Sydney, Australia

Art genre: Black and White architectural detail art photograph

Photography tip: When using "lights" (artificial bulbs or shafts of natural light) as accents, make sure the points or beams of light emphasize the overall composition and do not take over.

Location: Sydney, Australia

And....

More city jewelry.  This one, an invitation to come in.

Brass Door: Midtown, NYC

Photography tip: Rarely do I appreciate the white, "blownout" areas that photographing metal can produce.  However, in this architectural, the strong and just slightly off kilter horizontals & verticals allowed for some POP.  The blowouts add a brightness & a glow that accentuates the brass.

Note: Because the horizontals and verticals are so defined, the abstracted reflections also add interest but do not divert attention from the main focus.

City Jewels

I love looking at metal architectural details.  They seem to me like building "jewelry."  Indeed, years ago architects and builders gave much consideration to dressing up their structures with metal ornaments.  Wonderful building materials were used lavishly to compliment any public place and private homes.  Today this is a rarity....often it is deemed too expensive to adorn with architectural jewels.
I was at one of my favorite places: Grand Central Station and spied these door handles. And the great signage: "Push."  I had not noticed this solid brass door frame in a long time.  It glowed there quietly in the night while people rushed in and out.  I took many photos of this doorway, patiently waiting for the commuters to be on their various ways (and out of my images!).  City architectural jewels are everywhere: brass door handles; wrought iron door knockers; stained glass windows; railings made of carved wood.
As I stood there snapping away with my camera, a night owl youngster about maybe 5 said: "What are you taking pictures of?"  I pointed to the door handles.  "What!" he demanded.  When I explained my appreciation of the brass architectural jewelry, he gently ran his hand over the metal.  "Cool!"  I think so, too.